The second table gives the combinations of these elements; and, though a knowledge of such combinations is not as absolutely essential as the first, we still can not well dispense with it. The same weight—one hundred and fifty-four pounds—is taken as the standard.
| COMPOSITION OF THE BODY. | ||||
| Lbs. | Oz. | Grs. | ||
| 1. | Water, which is found in every part of the body, and amounts to | 109 | 0 | 0 |
| 2. | Fibrine, and like substances, found in the blood, and forming the chief solid materials of the flesh | 15 | 10 | 0 |
| 3. | Phosphate of lime, chiefly in bones and teeth, but in all liquids and tissues | 8 | 12 | 0 |
| 4. | Fat, a mixture of three chemical compounds, and distributed all through the body | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| 5. | Osseine, the organic framework of bones; boiled, gives gelatine. Weight | 4 | 7 | 350 |
| 6. | Keratine, a nitrogenous substance, forming the greater part of hair, nails, and skin. Weighs | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 7. | Cartilagine resembles the osseine of bone, and is a nitrogenous substance, the chief constituent of cartilage, weighing | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| 8. | Hæmoglobine gives the red color to blood, and is a nitrogenous substance containing iron, and weighing | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| 9. | Albumen is a soluble nitrogenous substance, found in the blood, chyle, lymph, and muscle, and weighs | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 10. | Carbonate of lime is found in the bones chiefly, and weighs | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 11. | Hephalin is found in nerves and brain, with cerebrine and other compounds | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 12. | Fluoride of calcium is found in teeth and bones, and weighs | 0 | 7 | 175 |
| 13. | Phosphate of magnesia is also in teeth and bones, and weighs | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 14. | Chloride of sodium, or common salt, is found in all parts of the body, and weighs | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 15. | Cholesterine, glycogen, and inosite are compounds containing hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon, found in muscle, liver, and brain, and weighing | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 16. | Sulphate phosphate, and salts of sodium, found in all tissues and liquids | 0 | 2 | 107 |
| 17. | Sulphate, phosphate, and chloride of potassium, are also in all tissues and liquids | 0 | 1 | 300 |
| 18. | Silica, found in hair, skin, and bone | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| 154 | 0 | 0 |
With this basis, to give us some understanding of the complicated and delicate machinery with which we must work, the question arises, what food contains all these constituents, and what its amount and character must be. The answer to this question will help us to form an intelligent plan for providing a family with the right nutrition.
CHAPTER VIII.
FOOD AND ITS LAWS.
We have found, that, in analyzing the constituents of the body, water is the largest part; and turning to food, whether animal or vegetable, the same fact holds good. It forms the larger part of all the drinks, of fruits, of succulent vegetables, eggs, fish, cheese, the cereals, and even of fats.
Fat is found in butter, lard, drippings, milk, eggs, cheese, fish, meat, the cereals, leguminous vegetables,—such as pease and beans,—nuts, cocoa, and chocolate.
Sugar abounds in fruits and vegetables, and is found in milk and cereals.